Carton for frozen food products



Aug. 1, 1933. A. B. BRACKETT 1,920,134

CARTON FOR FROZEN FOOD PRODUCTS Filed Dec. 1, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Iwvenior fl% a @M Aug. 1, 1933. B, -1" 1,920,184

CARTON FOR FROZEN FOOD PRODUCTS Filed Dec. 1, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 7MVZ/Zm- (l Hui-1163s Patented Aug. 1, 1933 UNITED STATES CARTON FORFROZENFOOD PRODUCTS Alfred B. Brackett, Swampscott, Mass., assignor toFrosted Foods Company, Inc., Dover, Del., a Corporation of DelawareApplication December 1, 1932. Serial no. 645,204

6 Claims. (01. 229-31 This invention relates to carton for foodproducts. It is illustrated in connection with. the packaging of foodproducts which are to be thereafter frozen in the carton, a use forwhich I find my new carton particularly well adapted.

In thus packaging any moisture-containing food product for storage ordistribution to the consumer, it is the practice to pack the carton withthe fresh moist product and then, after closing and securing, to freezethe filled carton and its contents into a solid block by subjecting itto the action of a refrigerating medium. When the freezing is effectedbetween parallel heat-conductive surfaces, it is important to interposebetween the product and such surfaces as little as possible materialhaving heatinsulating characteristics. Cardboard is such a material and,accordingly, my invention contemplates a carton having interfoldingend-sealing portions and bottom and top panels each comprising only asingle thickness of cardboard. Packed in such a carton the product maybe frozen from its upper and lower surfaces with a minimum insulatingeffect and maximum freezing efficiency for a packed product.

It is desirable for the convenience of the consumer that in opening apackage of frozen food product the carton may, without tearing, beentirely stripped away from the. solid frozen block which it containssince it may happen that the contents becomes frozen to the innersurface of the carton and is, therefore, difficult to separate from itswrapping. Accordingly,.I propose to provide a carton of suchconstruction that it may be unfolded into a fiat sheet leaving itsfrozen contents intact upon the bottom panel of the fiat carton blankfrom which it may be readily separated and removed.

With these conditions in view, I have designed a carton which meets allcommercial requirements advantageously and which may be manufacturedwith convenience and economy. As herein shown, the carton of myinvention is constructed from an integral blank of sheet material havingbottom and side panels and an attached cover member together withcertain flaps and end portions. The end walls of the carton may beformed from the end portions of the bottom and side panels, so folded asnot only to form complete and impervious end walls but also to provideoutside tucks.for receiving the coverholding flaps. The cover memberincludes a top panel and a cooperating side panel. The end walls of thecover are formed from end portions of these panels so folded as toprovide integral bottom, side and end walls for the carton as well ascover-holding fiaps. This construction produces an improved cartonparticularly adapted for use with moisture-containing products and inrefrigerating processes, and presenting the further advantage ofrequiring no adhesive or metallic fasteners for securing or sealing thepackaged carton.

Another feature of the invention consists in a novel arrangement ordesign of the scored lines which define the cover portions in the cartonblank. I have discovered that by deflecting inwardly the lines of theend portion of the cover fiap the cover corners may be made to drawtightly into contact with the body of the carton when the latter isclosed and secured, and thus is provided a package which is particularlytight and compact in structure'and appearance.

Still other features of the invention relate to characteristics of thecarton adapting it for display purposes and permitting inspection of thefrozen contents without exposure thereof. For this purpose the cover ofthe carton may be scored so that it may be folded back and beneath thebody of the carton, thereby adapting the filled carton to receivetelescopically a cover having a transparent window therein.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood andappreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment,selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of afood package inwhich is embodied my improved carton, the carton cover being partiallybroken away to disclose the contained frozen product;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing one end of the package with thecover end flap in open position;

Fig. 3 is a view of the package with the cover open;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the carton stripped away from thefrozen food block;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the package showing the end flaps open;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the carton in combination with a displaycover as seen from the rear; and

Fig. 7 illustrates a carton of modified form, having a transparentdisplay window in its cover.

As already intimated, one important field of use for the carton of myinvention is in the packaging of quick frozen products such, forexample, as fillets of fresh fish, fresh meat products, vegetables, etc.The carton is shown in the drawings as packed with asparagus tips andsince, as hereinafter more fully described, the carton has been treatedto render it substantially moisture and vapor proof, the product ispacked directly in the carton without the use of the wrapper or linersometimes used. When thus packed and closed, the package is ready to bequickly frozen. This operation may be conveniently effected by placingthe package between heat-conductive plates which contact firmly with thetop and bottom surfaces of the package, as in the apparatus of BirdseyePatent No. 1,773,079, the refrigerated plates serving to conduct heatrapidly from the package and convert the food therein into a solidfrozen block. The improved carton of my invention is particularlyadapted to this process since the product is located in direct contactwith the inner walls of the carton and the top and bottom walls thereofare of single ply thickness, thereby having a minimum insulation effect.The carton also has other features, hereinafter described, whichcontribute to its adaptability for the purpose herein described.

The carton is constructed from sheet mate rial, such as cardboard, andis formed and folded from a flat blank, best shown in Fig. 4. The blankfor forming the carton is treated to render it substantially water andvapor proof. This treatment is preferably in the nature of anapplication of a cellulose lacquer coating on the inner wall and rendersthe carton substantially impervious to the passage of moisture from theproduct'to the outside atmosphere. The blank, or at least its outersurface, is also preferably wax coated to render it waterproof andeasily cleaned. The construction of the carton is such that no adhesiveor metallic fasteners are required to hold it in place about the foodand it may be readily opened and stripped away in a manner leaving thefood block fully accessible. It will be readily apparent that a cartonhaving these characteristics is particularly adapted to the formation ofan improved frozen food package of the nature herein described, thetreated blank rendering the carton walls impervious and the closed foldsof the carton cooperating therewith to keep the food substantially freefrom exposure, losses by desiccation and deterioration.

The carton blank herein shown may be died out at one operation and isshaped and scored to define a rectangular bottom panel 12 and top panel14 of similar size and shape connected by an intermediate side panel 16.A second or front side panel 18 is connected to the other edge of thebottom panel 12 and a third or side cover panel 26 is connected to theouter edge of the cover panel 14. All of these panels are united by thefull length of their longitudinal edges and defined by scored lines 32,33, 34 and 35. All of these panels are also extended at each end toprovide end and corner portions. At the ends of the bottom panel arelocated endportions 21 formed integrally with corner portions 20 and 22at the ends of the side panels 16 and 18 respectively. At the ends ofthe top or cover panel are located end portions 28 formed integrallywith corner portions 29 at the ends of the side cover panel 26. The endportions 21 are extended still further to form flaps 24 and 25 and thecover end portions 28 are extended to form flaps 30.

The blank is scored to define the longitudinal edges of the panels, asalready noted, and is also scored on transverse lines 36 to define theend portions and facilitate folding the blank into carton form. Thecorner portions 20, 22 and 29 are also scored diagonally at 38 wherebythey may take an even bellows fold in forming tucks at the ends of thecarton, as will be presently described.

The carton is given its shape by folding the side panels 16 and 18 andthe end portions 21 into upright position, and in this operation thecorner portions 20 and 22 are folded outwardly on the scored lines 38 toform doubled tucks disposed closely against the end walls of the carton.Each end is then completed and the body of the carton secured by foldingthe end flaps 24 downwardly over the doubled tucks 20 and 22 and thentucking the flaps 25 upwardly beneath or behind these tucks in theposition shown in Fig. 3. In this way is formed an integral body havingno cracks or openings in its bottom, side and end walls all rigidly andsubstantially supported by the interfolded portions of the end walls.

After the carton has been filled, the cover por-- tion is closed to theposition shown in Fig. 1 as follows,-the top and side panels 14and 26are first folded into the position of Fig. 2. Each corner portion 29 isthen folded inwardly along its diagonal scoring 38, the cover endportions 28 folded thereover and the holding flaps 30 tucked upwardlybeneath or behind the flaps 2425'. This operation results in tightlyclosing the carton on all sides and securely fastening it in thatcondition. There is no danger of accidental disengagement of the coverand yet the carton may be readily opened to render the contained productfully accessible by withdrawing the cover fiap 30 without disturbing thestructure of the carton body.

It will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2 that the closing of the cover endportions 28 functions, through the folded corner portions 29, to drawthe cover side panel 26 to a position closely adjacent to the side panel18. The closing of these panels into the closest possible relation ishighly desirable in a frozen food package, since such relation directlyaffects the insulating and protecting efficiency of the container. Ihave discovered that by imparting a particular characteristic to thescoring of the carton blank, this relation can be materially improved.As best seen in Fig. 4, the end portions 40 of the score line 35 beyondthe cover panel 14 diverge inwardly toward and into the end portions 28and in a direction away from the side cover panel 26. When the endportion 28 is brought to closed position, the corner 42 (Fig. 2) of theside cover panel 26 is brought inwardly against the carton body to aposition coinciding with the corner 44 of the end portion 28 because thescore line 38 exactly bisects the corner portion 22. The diverging scorelines 40 act to draw the corner 44 at each end of the panel 26 furtherinwardly than would be the case if the score lines 40 were parallel withthe score line 35. Thus, in this construction, the side panel 26 isbrought to and held in a more tightly closed position relative to theside panel 18 when the cover is closed, thereby more efficientlyprotecting the product, especially along the front of the carton.

I have also discovered how, by imparting a particular characteristic tothe blank, the rear top corners of the carton can be more tightlyclosed. The cover 14 and side panel 16 are connected together along thescore line 34 and in my improved carton I extend this connectionoutwardly Iat both ends of the score line at 46 to points slightlybeyond the side and cover panels, whereby the adjacent edges of the sideand cover endforming portions 20 and 28 are connected together adjacentto the attached side and cover panels 16 and 14. When the corner portion20 and end portion 28 are folded to the closed position of Fig. 1, theseextended and connected portions at 46 serve more completely to enclosetheir corners of the carton than is the case when the cover adapting itto fold backwardly to a posi-- tion permitting the application of thedisplay cover to the open carton. As best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, thecarton cover is scored entirely across on a line 48 parallel with theline 34 and spaced therefrom a distance approximately equal to the widthof the adjacent side panel 16. When it is desired to use one of the foodpackages for display purposes, the cover is opened, the end portionsthereof are folded backwardly along lines 36 against the panels 14 and26, and the entire cover is then folded backwardly against the panel 16and beneath the carton and against its bottom panel 12, the scoring foldat 48 coinciding with the fold line 33 defining the rear lower edge ofthe carton. A display cover 50, comprising side and end panels and acover panel 54 pro vided with a transparent window 52 of sheet celluloseor the like, may then be slipped in closefitting relation over the sidesof the opened carton. This arrangement and combination, shown in Fig. 6,permits the use of my improved carton for display purposes while keepingthe product therein covered and protected.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated the carton itself as constructed with atransparent window 56 of sheet cellulose or the like inserted in thecover panel, whereby the product may be inspected at all times withoutopening the carton.

When the consumer desires to open the packages, the cover may bereleased by withdrawing the cover end flaps edgewise and downwardly,whereupon the cover may be lifted. If the frozen contents adhere to thewalls of the carton, the body thereof may be freely stripped away fromthe food block by withdrawing the end flaps 25 and folding outwardly theside panels and end portions, restoring the carton to the flat form ofthe blank, as suggested in Fig. 4.

While I have shown and described the utility of my carton as applied toa frozen food package, my new carton has advantages that are not limitedto that particular field of use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A carton for frozen food products, comprising a box-like body havingexterior tucks at its ends for receiving cover-holding flaps, a coverattached to one edge of the body and including top, side and end panelsand corner portions connected to the side and end panels, the coverbeing scored along the junction of the top and side panels whereby topermit the side panel to be folded against the adjacent side of the bodyand each of said corner portions being scored diagonally and along itsedges whereby it may be folded beneath its end panel, the scorings atthe junction of the end panels and said corner portions divergingoutwardly away from the outer edge of the side panel thereby tending todraw the side panel close to the body of the carton when the end panelsare folded against the body, and holding flaps carried by the end panelsfor engaging within said tucks.

2. A carton for frozen food products, comprising a bodyportion havingfolded tucks at each end, a cover having flaps adapted to be foldedbehind said tucks, a side hover panel, and scored corner portionsthereon defined in part by a scored line which is deflected inwardlytoward the fold line of the cover.

3. A carton for frozen food products, comprising a body portion havingfolded tucks at each end, a cover having an outer side panel set offfrom the cover by a scored line, and bellowsfolding corner portions setoff from the cover and said outer panel by scored lines diverging bymore than 90 and each bisected by a diagonal scored line.

4. A carton for frozen food products, comprising a box-like body havinga bottom panel, connected side panels and end portions extendingoutwardly beyond said panels, a cover integrally attached to the freeedge of one of the side panels and having end portions at its ends, theline of attachment of the cover and side panels extending slightlybeyond the ends of the side and cover panels whereby theadjacent edgesof the side and cover end portions are integrally connected for a shortdistance and thereby caused completely to enclose the correspondingcorners of the carton when the cover is closed.

5. A carton for frozen food products, comprising a box-like body havinga bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall, a cover integrally attachedto the top edge of the rear wall, having a side panel and adapted to befolded over and form the top wall of the carton, said cover being scoredalong a line parallel to its line of attachment and at a distance fromsaid line substantially equal to the width of the rear wall whereby thecover can be folded backwardly against the rear wall to the bottom ofthe carton and from thence inwardly beneath the bottom wall.

6. A carton in which moisture-containing food 115 products may befrozen, comprising a bottom panel having two side panels connectedthereto, connected end portions extending outwardly beyond each end ofsaid panels and a flap extending outwardly beyond each bottom panel endportion, the bottom panel end portions being folded upwardly to form theend walls of the carton and the side panel end portions being scoreddiagonally and folded outside the end walls, each end wall flap beingfolded downwardly over the folded side panel end portions and itsextreme end being folded inwardly and interlocked upwardly beneath thefolded side panel end portions, 2. cover panel connected to the top edgeof one of the side panels and having a cover side panel connected to itsouter edge, connected end portions extending outwardly beyond each endof said cover panels and a flap extending outwardlybeyond each top panelend portion, the cover panel end portions being foldable downwardly toform the end walls of the cover, the connected side panel end portionsbeing scored diagonally to fold inwardly beneath the cover end walls,and the cover panel flaps being foldable inwardly to interlock upwardlybeneath the first-named side panel end portions, the carton having asingle panel thickness for its top and bottom walls and the top panelportions and'their flaps serving to hold the cover closed and actingthrough the connected side panel end portions to hold the cover sidepanel drawn closely against the carton.

ALFRED B. BRACKETT. 15o

